4. I N T R O D U C T I O N - P R E - P R O D U C T I O N
F E D D B A C K
When in the pre-production stage one of my initial first thought was to gain
some of my target markets feedback on my first idea.To do this I asked a lot
of generic questions as at that point I only had a 25 word pitch to go on and
an idea of my who I wanted my target audience to be.As said previously I
asked my target audience some general question for example:
I did this in order to gage what my target audience would want to see within
the a horror today and what aspects they find most appealing.From the
feedback I got I then started to construct the other documents from the pre-
production stage.
5. P R E - P R O D U C T I O N F E E D B A C K
C O N T I N U E D … T H E S E A R E T H E
R E S P O N S E S
6. C O N C L U S I O N T O T H I S
F E E D B A C KIn order for you to understand the rest of target audiences answers i have copied in my vague plot:
'A girl in her late teens comes across a mysterious box,that upon its opening releases a dark presence which makes an
attempt to consume the girls life.'
I asked, 'What they thought was good about my idea so far?' and the responses I received were pretty similar however, one common
comment I got was that it remind them of pandora's box.I order to understand where my audience is coming from I did some research
about the myth of the pandora's box and here is a brief look at what I have found?,
Pandora's box is an artifact in Greek mythology, taken from the myth of Pandora's creation in hesoid's Works and days.The
"box" was actually a large jar given to Pandora ("all-gifted", "all-giving"),which contained all the Evils of the world.
Today the phrase "to open Pandora's box" means to perform an action that may seem small or innocent, but that turns out to
have severely detrimental and far-reaching consequences.
Maybe incorporating some of this legend into my plot may help make my narrative more of a solid story.I also had many responses
saying it's quiet a unique idea.
I then asked my audience,'What they thought was good about my idea?'.I answers I received told me that my audience are already
picking out supernatural elements within my plot as someone has stated,'Sort of mythical'.Also my target audience are stated that 'It's
very horror',which is exactly what I'm trying to convey therefore I think my vague plot was a good starting choice for me to choose.
I Later asked my artist audience what they,'Liked' and 'Disliked' about my idea.A-lot of the responses I received just said or implied that
my plot was good however needed much more development with it.One answer that intrigued me is,'Maybe you could exploit the girls
weaknesses'.This could fit into the results found about people's fears.Out of the five fed back to me,'Being stalked' and 'Each Other-
Maybe a loved one' could be changed and adapted to become part of my horror.My target audience has also warned me not to be to
cliche as it could ruin how unique it could be.From these results I can only adapt my idea from them to make my idea more
appealing.In order to see exactly what ones work I will have to do some more research and development to make sure my trailer takes
the right direction.
I later asked my audience to write down,'Any words that spring to mind when reading my vague plot?'.The purpose of this question was
to help me come up with a title for my (trailer) film.Again there was references to pandora's box however, that is cliche therefore I was
think about doing some further research to see what other culture perhaps call this myth and see if there is anyway that I can develop
this idea in order to give me a name for my trailer.also death and procession have been a common reoccurrence throughout
these answers therefore I was maybe thinking inspired by the 'Black Magic' answer i could look down the latin language look in order to
create my title.
7. R E A C T I O N V I D E O
I did this sort of observation as another form or primary research as I feel it would
strengthen the information I receive in order to progress with the production of the
promotion package.I thought this would be a simple message because I would be able to
gage what the target audience for my promotional package think of a recent professional
horror.I recorded their responses as seen in the video’s above and from this I found the
elements my target audience thought worked and what they thought did not.This gave me
a sort of clear understanding as to what my target audience were looking for in a
horror.Therefore I received the review on what my target audience thought which enables
me to tailer my own horror to their wants and needs and make my trailer appealing to my
market audience.
9. P R O D U C T I O N F E E D B A C K
• Throughout my trailer I did make many changes to my
original idea for example I discarded the theme of the
box throughout my trailer as I felt that the shots weren’t
as effusive as I had originally hoped and therefore
thought the trailer and story would be stronger without
it.I produced approximately 4 drafts of make trailer and
received feedback on them every time in order to see
what tweaks and improvements my target audience
would make in order to make it appeal more to
them.The feedback I received is on the next slide…
10.
11. R E V I E W I N G T H E F E E D B A C K
• When reviewing the feedback each time I produced a draft I
would then take the improvements,’Make the music smoother
throughout’ and try and fix this within the trailer.This was vital
feedback each time because Ir received feedback from my
own target audience therefore I was getting a direct
response.This direct response was very important to my
trailer because practically anything they were saying I could
do to improve they have only said in order to make my trailer
appeal more to them (My target Audiences).From the
feedback each time it enabled me to improve my trailer’s
attraction and get towards my Final product.
12. P O S T E R
F E E D B A C K
• Following the same trend as the my
trailer I took information from the
pre-production feedback about
what my target audience wants to
see in my promotional
package.From this I then started
my trailers production however
throughout different scenes of my
trailer I captured shots separately to
use with my magazine and
poster.This then enabled me to
start the production on my poster.I
created many drafts of my poster
here is some of the feedback I
received…
13.
14. From the type of feedback I was receiving from my past drafts for my poster I have
decided that it might be more beneficial for me to start again including shots from a
part of my trailer which was last filmed.The shots were strong therefore I did re-start
the poster completely to make my film appeal more and strengthen my products.
I feel this was the right decision as from the
feedback I was getting it seemed that my poster
was just not effective therefore I tried a new
design and layout and the feedback I received
was more positive.I was only advised to make to
some minor changes which is what I did and
came up with my final product using my target
audiences feedback.
15. M A G A Z I N E F R O N T
C O V E R
F E E D B A C K
• Following my other products within
the promotional package I followed
the advice given from my target
audience in the pre production stage
and started to construct my
magazine front cover once I got the
images which where shots
alongside various scenes within the
trailer. I then started to create many
drafts in order to keep improving my
magazine to the taste of my target
audience. From this feedback I then
gradually built up to my final
product.The feedback I received for
my drafts is on the next slide…
16.
17. Final Product
This is the magazine I finally
came up with.I decided to
change the main image
because I felt have the arms in
the shot made the cover to
busy so I decided to just focus
this face.
This also enables the me to focus on one of the main features of
my promotional package which is the eyes of ‘Ava’.I edited the
picture in such a way to make it look grainy and make the face
look more distorted.I feel just focusing on the face made the
magazine front cover look more spaced out and more
professional.From all the feedback I had received then led me to
decided that this is my final product that my target audience and
I’m happy with,
18. F I N A L F E E D B A C K - O N A L L O F M Y
P R O D U C T S
dience to fill out a question on whether they through all of m
22. C O N C L U S I O N
• From my final results of my feedback I can determine whether my trailer and ancillary
products were a success.The first thing I can establish from my results is that I
achieved what I needed to which was create a horror as 100% of the people that I
asked said this was the case.I also achieved the age rating that I wanted to achieve
which was a 15 rating as again 100% of my target audience said this was the case.I
then asked what parts of my trailer they thought was most effective.The results I
received from this was that,’the special effects that have been used and the different
shot types’ and ‘the cinematography and effects’.The next question I asked was what
they thought my weaknesses were ‘The moment where she is looking at all the Ava’s
papers on the wall - the posters and bed sheets make the scene look very busy and
crowded - you can't pay attention to all of the notes’ and ‘I wasn't sure about the
bleeding heart, I know why it was used but didn't think it was as effective’.From these
results I can tell that I could have been more carefully with the scenes where the
heart was involved as I can see how it can look like the heart is out of place or just
stuck in for the sake of it however this was never my intention.Therefore I could have
been a lot more prepared and well organised for these scenes.I feel I was maybe let
down by the these scenes because the heart was never originally scripted therefore
the scenes of the heart where replaced of the shots of the box.therefore because they
were thought out between the middle of the production it did not give me enough time
to plan out these shots enough.Which might be what failed.
23. C O N T I N U E D …
• As far as the shoots with the notes goes I personally like the fact that it’s quite packed and
busy because it add’s a sort of worry to the shot which presents a disorganised and
shocking feel.I then asked my audience what would they change if they got the chance
to.The answers I received from this were,’Some of the sound editing isn't very smooth so
I'd probably edit it. An example is the bit where she is looking through the door - you hear
part of the sound before the jump scare happens’ and ‘I would have made it have more of
a narrative and linear structure’.From this I can see that the sound and narrative are big
weaknesses within my trailer.The sound from this feedback I have tweaked so that it runs
smoothly all the way through so hopefully this comment should be resolved by now
however with regards to the narrative I have struggled with this within the
production.When the change of the box and the heart came about I wads worried the my
entire plot was non existent therefore I had to be very particular about what other shots I
would need to include to try and establish some sort of narrative.I decided to produce a
sort of story within my trailer by showing some of the ‘pre-horror’ or nice shots at the
beginning whilst creeping in some of the horror shots.Of course within a trailer the shots
are jumbled up and not in a chronological order so, I guess in this way I am breaking
conventions.I have done this because I feel this added some more narrative to my trailer
and make it clear to understand.I guess this kind of worked as I asked my target audience
that very question 75% of my audience said that Ava does have a clear narrative
however,25% of my audience said ‘No’ and I can see why because of the confusion I had
in the production.
24. C O N T I N U E D …
• I then asked my target audience what they think the strengths are for my posters and
magazines.The comments I received were,’The editing that you have used on them both
is very effective. The colour scheme for the magazine is effective also and fits the codes
and conventions’,’Poster - lots of editing and looks really professional. Magazine - the
darkness of the photo is quite nice and effective’ and ‘They capture a similar effect with
fear and suspense like the trailer’.From this feedback it made me come to the elusion that
all of my products were finished to the best of my ability’s.However the next question I
asked was,What were the weaknesses of my ancillary products?.The comments I
received is,’The poster could be slightly darker to make it suggest more of the horror
genre but it is still very good. I would say for the magazine the cover is slightly cluttered
for Empire- too many features’,’Poster - could be a drama poster - red is the only
connotation of horror. Magazine -the sell lines don't look as professional as everything
else - a little too bright and the text isn’t very Empire’ and ‘The colours for the poster
seemed too bright when compared to the magazine cover’.Addressing comment number
one I do agree.I noticed when I was producing the poster because the colours were light
and with the position of Ava it can be see as a drama however,I then looked into adding
hints of subliminal messages which made me come to the conclusion of adding the red
eyes and red water to symbolise demons/spirits and blood in the water which hopefully
made it more clear my posters for a horror film however,I wouldn’t have known to do this
without the help of the feedback.
